Know that He is God

2 Peter 1:12-21English Standard Version (ESV)

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body,[a] to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son,[b] with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II+Peter+1%3A12-21&version=ESV)

Not very many people can claim that they heard the audible voice of God but Peter could and did.  He not only heard it but also heard it while standing in the presence of Jesus.  Wow, wouldn’t that be amazing to hear God’s voice thundering from the heavens proclaiming Christ as His Son?  He walked and talked with the Son of God on a daily basis, thus, God was in his presence for three years, day and night.  When he tells us to how we grow in Christ, he tells us with the authority of one who was taught first hand by Christ. 

We may not have had the eyewitness account that Peter had but we have our Bibles, which is the prophetic Word of God.  We may not have heard His thundering voice but if we listen we can hear His still small voice.  I hear it when I have cried out to Him and then pick up my Bible and read His Word.  I am amazed that the answers are in the Book and are given to me at just the right time in my life. 

Although we need to have fellowship with others, even more so, we need to have fellowship with our Father.  We do that through our daily devotions with Him.  The more we know Him, the more we love Him.  That is evidenced in Peter’s life, he was willing to give all for the One that he knew was the Son of God.  If you have ever felt His presence you know what I am talking about.  If you have never felt the presence of God, confess your sins to Him, He will forgive.  Ask Him to be Lord of your life and you will know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you have heard from God.  Seek Him and know that He is God.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Know Your Calling

2 Peter 1:1-11English Standard Version (ESV)

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II+Peter+1%3A+1+-+11&version=ESV)

If we know God, we know how to handle life.  That is a big statement that sounds kind of simple.  Those who think that praying the sinners prayer and being baptized is all they need to handle life and to be a part of His kingdom do not know what they are truly missing out on.  As we read further in this scripture we realize that we need to live our life in a manner that exemplifies Christ.  That is not to say that we are saved by our works but it is to say, in order to have a life that confirms our calling we need to work towards it.

If I wanted to be a doctor, for example, I would have to gain much knowledge in the field.  I would need to study long, hard hours, and I would have to be patient as I went through the various processes of earning that degree.  I would in essence need to supplement my desire with long years of studying in order to obtain the knowledge that I would need to become a doctor.  I can’t just say I want to be a doctor and immediately be one.

This holds somewhat true in our faith walk.  Yes, we can ask Christ to be a part of our life but the evidence of a life for Him comes in our knowledge of Him.  It comes in how we live our lives because of what we know of Him.  The more we know, the more we have self-control, the more self-control we have, the better understanding of how to hold firm to His promises.  The more we hold firm to those promises, the more we see how much love for our brothers is needed and fellowship of believers is vital.  As these qualities increase so does our fruitfulness for Him. 

As a child I remember thinking, “How am I ever going to learn all the people in the Bible?”  I would think of being in Heaven and one of these main characters coming up to me and I would not know who they were.  As I read this scripture I am reminded that the One I need to know is God.  I certainly do not want to stand before Him and not know Him.  That is why I continue to seek Him through His word.  That is why I write this blog, so that others will also seek Him and know Him.  The more we know, the more we want to know.  The more we realize that we are loved, the more we love others.   As you seek Him today, may you find your calling in Him, to know Him, trust Him, and seek Him with all your heart.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Humility

1 Peter 5:1-14English Standard Version (ESV)

5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,[a] not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;[b] not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I+Peter+5%3A+1+-+14&version=ESV)

Wow, what a passage and so direct and true.  Often times we can get caught up in church politics.  We try to figure out who is in charge, is it the pastor, leadership, or the church congregation?  What we forget is that it is God who is in charge.  As I read this I had to thank the Lord for my Pastor because he does demonstrate these things to his congregation.  At the same time I needed to pray that God protect him from the attacks of satan who does prowl around like a roaring lion.  The devil likes to attack when things are going good because he does not want the Christian to win the battle.  We know though, that we will be on the winning side of the war at the time of the final battle!  Stand firm, all you that serve Him.

The second portion of this passage speaks directly to me and I you too will draw much from it.  What does it mean to humble ourselves before the Lord?  In my thinking it means to always depend on Him no matter the situation.  When I begin to worry, I begin to pray.  I believe this is humbling myself before the Lord.  However, I need to stop the worry and just pray!  I know that He is the only One that knows the answer but often times I think I deserve to know.  That is when I need to stop and remember that He is watching from above and is watching out for me.  He not only knows the outcome before I do He is in control of it.  I know that my strength will come from Him and Him alone.  Most of all, I know that I am not “all that” but God IS.  I cannot control everything that happens in my life but I know that God does. 

We worry, we fret, we lose sleep, and we (at least I) cry a lot but why?  Trust in the Lord as you seek Him, know that He is the One and Only One that can help you through your trials.  Honor those who serve God by taking care of His sheep.  Pray for them because just like us they can fall into the trap of pride.  Seek Him and know that He is worthy of our humility.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Don’t Stop Doing Good

1 Peter 4:7-19English Standard Version (ESV)

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory[a] and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[b]

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I+Peter+4%3A+7-+19&version=ESV)

We have all heard the phrase, “this too shall pass” and that is what I thought of when I read, “The end of all things is at hand”.  We, as humans, have struggles, disappointments, heartache, and grief.  That is what we call life and the result of sin.  Even though our Heavenly Father forgives us, there are still consequences, just as there were in the time of Adam and Eve.  However, Christ demonstrated to us how we should live our lives by suffering and dying for us while we were yet sinners.  Romans 5:8 tells us, 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:8&version=ESV)

So, I must ask myself, “Have I really suffered for Christ?”  “Have I taken up the cross of Christ daily?”  “Have I responded to fiery trials the way that Christ would?”  The answer to those questions is a resounding “no” but my heart and soul desire to be more and more like Christ in whatever circumstance I find myself.  When I suffer for Christ it should be all for Him not for me.  Yet, so many times I look at myself and how much I was hurt, forgetting that this life is not about me but about Christ.

These passages tell us to keep on loving even to the seemingly unlovable.  Keep doing what is right even if everyone else finds that to be appalling.  Keep on keeping on for the sake of Christ.  Today in my prayer time, I asked what I was supposed to do for Christ and then I read the answer in these passages.  No, it does not tell my what occupation that I am to have but it does tell me to use the gifts that He has given me to do good for those around me.  I am going to keep on seeking God, in all circumstances, I am going to keep on loving even when I have a hard time finding that love, and I am going to keep on putting my faith and trust in the One True God.  Seek Him and know that He is worthy of our trust, our honor, and our praise.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila